A Giant jolt to the system

Sunday

Sep 23, 2012 at 12:01 AM

As the New York Giants trotted off the Bank of America Stadium surface and into their locker room Thursday night, a corresponding line accompanied them.

Alongside the mud-stained white jerseys were electric blue Carolina jerseys, except that there were men and women, and all the jerseys had the same number, “00,” and the names on the backs all had “PURRCUSSION.”

It was the Panthers’ band. Somehow the juxtaposition seemed fitting after New York’s 36-7 artillery barrage onto the Carolina home turf.

Monte Dutton

CHARLOTTE – As the New York Giants trotted off the Bank of America Stadium surface and into their locker room Thursday night, a corresponding line accompanied them.

Alongside the mud-stained white jerseys were electric blue Carolina jerseys, except that there were men and women, and all the jerseys had the same number, “00,” and the names on the backs all had “PURRCUSSION.”

It was the Panthers’ band. Somehow the juxtaposition seemed fitting after New York’s 36-7 artillery barrage onto the Carolina home turf.

Rivera’s a stand-up guy leading a team that’s barely standing. The season is young, but so far it’s discouraging.

The head coach took it better than the quarterback. Cam Newton looked disconsolate. He looked as if he would rather face a firing squad than answer questions.

“Who wants to watch a performance of embarrassment?” Newton asked, matching a question with one of his own. “If I was a fan of the Carolina Panthers, I would hold my head in shame over the performance that was out there.”

Trailing 20-0 at half, the second half began ignominiously with a fumble of the kickoff. The night ended with five turnovers: two fumbles lost and three interceptions. The Giants had none.

The Panthers (1-2) are two years removed from 1-15. Last year brought little pressure. Led by Newton, they were an exciting 6-10, which this year leads to plenty of it.

“We are trying to get out of the rut,” Rivera said, “trying to get away from the way things used to be.

“We have to mature and accept responsibility. We got slapped in the face, and you’ve got to get up and hit back.”

“This is not the product we were hoping to put on the field,” tight end Greg Olsen said. “Four days ago we had a huge win and everyone here was excited. It’s disappointing. There is no doubt about it.”

It’s early. The Panthers are going through a certain shock to the system. The season’s three games old and they aren’t as good as they thought they were. The rest of the league isn’t backing up.